RELAX: OC61 Salon & Spa

For many our hair is our most defining feature. For that reason, as dutiful members of a culture often fixated on appearance, we are quite tentative about selecting who we permit to style, cut, dry, color, or even merely touch our tresses. As a result, New York City has a plethora of options when it comes to professional stylists, so how to make this very important selection? Enter OC61, a gem of a salon conveniently located on the Upper East Side (for exact location, look no farther than the name itself – hint, it’s a street number), equipped with services including styling, cuts, color, manicures, pedicures, and facials. In this amicable environment (two floors including an outdoor patio) customers are made to feel comfortable and at ease.

I enjoyed a visit to OC61 on one of the first days permitting a glimpse of spring. I was greeted warmly by reception and invited to sit at one of the salon’s stations at which I was pleasantly surprised to feel a breeze made possible by one of the several large open windows reminiscent of European dining. From styling consultation, to shampooing and conditioner-ing to final cut, my experience at OC61 was pleasant and refreshingly unpretentious.

Louise O’Connor is the mastermind behind the operation. Originally hailing from Ireland, Ms. O’Connor brings an expertise fostered by years of experience in both New York City and London. She opened OC61 in 2004, and six years later, business continues to be strong. Boasting a host of celebrity clientele, Ms. O’Connor is modest about her impressive history of collaborations including Badgley Mischka, Versaci, Gucci, Nanette Lepore, Living Proof, Barex and L’Oréal. More focused on her local clientele than on her widespread recognition, Ms. O’Connor prefers to talk about her daughter’s request to enjoy a beautiful day in the park than the last runway show she styled. Much like the lovely spring air presenting on the day of my visit to her salon, and unlike the expectations of her materialistic industry, Ms. O’Connor’s focus (and the salon overall) encompasses the exact feeling desirable to each of her clients: refreshing, youthful, relaxed and kind.

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